Fall Window Cleaning in Westmount: Older Homes, Divided Panes and the Last Exterior Clean Before Winter

If you live in Westmount and want clean windows for the winter, book the exterior clean in October or early November. Once temperatures stay around freezing, outdoor window cleaning stops until spring, and whatever is on the glass then stays there through the darkest months. Westmount homes also tend to need a bit more planning than a newer suburban house, mostly because of the age of the windows, the number of small panes and the trees.

Here's what to think about before the season closes.

Why Westmount windows get dirty in their own way

A lot of Westmount's housing is older brick and greystone, built when windows were made of wood and split into many small panes. Plenty of those windows have been replaced over the years, but many homes still have original sashes, exterior storm windows, transoms over doors and bay windows on the front.

That matters for cleaning in three ways.

• More glass edges. A divided-light window with six or eight panes per sash has far more corners and muntin edges than one large pane. Dirt collects along those edges, and that's exactly where a quick wipe leaves a ring of grime.
• Mature trees. The streets below and around the mountain are lined with big maples and other hardwoods. In fall, leaf fragments, seeds and the fine dust that comes with them settle on sills and stick to wet glass. Earlier in the year, pollen and sap do the same.
• The slope. Homes higher up toward the summit often sit above the street on terraced lots, with stairs, retaining walls and narrow side paths. Getting to the back and side windows is sometimes harder than getting to the front.

What a fall exterior clean covers

Altara's flat rate is for the exterior. You pick a tier based on how many windows the house has on the pricing page, and the visit covers:

• the outside of the glass,
• the frames and sills,
• screens rinsed in place during the same pass.

The crew cleans with pure deionized water on a water-fed pole. Because the water has no minerals in it, it dries without spots, and no soap is left on the glass to attract dust. The brush on the pole also works the frames and sills, which is where Westmount's fall leaf grit builds up. On divided-light windows, the brush gets into the corners of each small pane instead of dragging dirt from one side to the other.

The pole reaches up to three storeys from the ground. Most Westmount houses, including many semi-detached and row homes, fall within that. Taller facades, homes where the only access to the rear is over a steep terrace, or buildings with hard-to-reach upper windows get a site visit first so the crew can see what's involved before pricing.

What's not in the flat rate

A few things are add-ons or separate quotes, and it's better to know before the visit:

• Interior glass is an optional paid add-on. Interior cleaning can be done year-round, so some homeowners do the exterior in fall and the inside later in winter.
• Screen removal and washing is an optional paid add-on. Rinsing in place comes with the exterior clean; taking screens out and washing them properly is extra.
• Track cleaning is an optional paid add-on, mostly useful on sliding windows and patio doors.
• Skylights, solariums, heavy mineral staining and post-construction cleanup are quoted separately. If you've had masonry or renovation work done this year and there's mortar or paint on the glass, mention it.

Altara doesn't repair screens. If the crew notices a tear while rinsing, they'll point it out so you can get it fixed before spring.

If your home has leaded or stained glass panels, say so in your message. Those are often older and more delicate than the rest of the windows, and it's worth having the crew look at them before cleaning.

Storm windows and the fall changeover

Many older Westmount homes still swap screens for exterior storm windows in the fall. If you do this, think about the order. The inside face of the storm window and the outside face of the main sash end up sealed together all winter, and nobody touches them until spring. Clean both before the storms go up, or you'll be looking through a summer's worth of dust until April.

The same logic applies to screens you plan to store. Wash them, let them dry fully, label which window each one goes on, and store them flat or upright somewhere dry.

Timing your booking

Exterior cleaning in Greater Montréal runs roughly from March to November. The last few weeks of the season are busy, and the weather in November is unpredictable, so October is the safer bet if you want the job done before the cold settles in.

A few practical tips for the day:

• Unlock side gates and back gates, or leave instructions on how to get to the rear of the house.
• Move anything fragile off exterior window sills and away from the base of the walls.
• If you're adding interior glass, clear the sills inside and open curtains or blinds.

After the visit, if you notice a streak, report it within 24 hours and the crew comes back to fix it at no charge. That's Altara's streak-free guarantee.

One clean a year, or a recurring program

For most Westmount homes, two exterior cleans a year (spring and fall) keep the windows in good shape. Spring removes the winter salt and grime; fall removes pollen, sap and leaf debris before the long dark stretch. If you're under a lot of trees or near a busy road like Sherbrooke, you may want more.

Altara offers recurring service. Quarterly service comes with a 10% discount, every two months with 15%, and monthly with 20%. Bi-annual and annual programs don't carry a discount, but they come with automated reminders so you don't have to remember to book. More details are on the Westmount service page.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last date for exterior window cleaning in Westmount?

There's no fixed date. Exterior cleaning stops once temperatures stay around or below freezing, which in Greater Montréal usually happens some time in November. Booking in October gives you the best chance of getting the visit done before that.

Can you clean old divided-pane wooden windows with a water-fed pole?

Yes. The soft brush on the pole works into the corners of each pane and along the muntins, and the pure water rinses the dirt off without leaving minerals or soap behind. If the wood or glazing putty is in poor condition, the crew will mention it, since that's a repair job rather than a cleaning one.

Is interior window cleaning included in the flat rate?

No. The flat rate covers the exterior glass, frames and sills, with screens rinsed in place. Interior glass, screen removal and washing, and track cleaning are optional paid add-ons you can choose when booking.

Can Altara clean a three-storey house on the upper slope of Westmount?

Usually, yes. The pole reaches up to three storeys from the ground. If the house is taller, sits high above the street, or the rear windows are only reachable over a steep terrace, the crew does a site visit first.

Book your fall clean

Count your windows, pick your tier on the pricing page and add interior glass, screens or tracks if you want them. If your home has storm windows, leaded glass or tricky access, send us a message first and we'll sort out the details.